Video signal producing system and video signal recording/ reproducing device in that system

ABSTRACT

A video signal producing system includes an imaging device for obtaining progressive imaging signals having various frame rates, a recording device for recording an output signal of the imaging device and a reproduction device for reproducing a recording signal obtained from the recording device. The imaging device includes a frame rate converting portion for converting the imaging signals to an output having a predetermined frame rate and the reproduction device changes a reproduction speed in response to each of the various frame rates so as to generate an output having a substantial number of frames such that the substantial number of the frames assumes a predetermined value.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a video signal producing systemusable for an electronic cinema system in which a movie is shot andprocessed not on a film but electronically.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a video signal recordingand reproducing apparatus for use in the video signal producing system,in which shooting by the use of a camera or the like and recording areperformed by changing a frame rate (the number of frames per second) ofa video signal and effects of slow motion and high-speed motion aregained in reproduced video by outputting the video signal at apredetermined frame rate at the time of reproduction.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] Due to recent developments of high-definition (HD) broadcastingequipment, trends towards an electronic cinema system, etc. in whichmovies are electronized, namely, conventional films are replaced byvideo tapes or the like have become active and make it necessary to dealwith changes from a television field frequency of 60 Hz to a movie framefrequency of 24 Hz and from interlace (hereinafter, referred to as “i”)scanning method to progressive (hereinafter, referred to as “P”)scanning method.

[0004] A system for producing video signals electronically has aconfiguration which roughly includes an imaging device for obtaining, asimaging signals, 24P signals, i.e., progressive signals having the framefrequency of 24 Hz, a recording device for recording a rate of the 24Psignals and a reproduction device for reproducing the 24P signals.

[0005] In HD video format, the 24P signals are standardized at a1080-format having 1080 scanning lines and a 720P-format having 720scanning lines by Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers(SMPTE) 274M and SMPTE296M, respectively.

[0006] A prior art video signal producing system is shown in, forexample, FIG. 35. In FIG. 35, “31” is an imaging device capable ofoutputting P imaging signals, “32” is a 24P recording device applicableto 24P and “33” is a reproduction device. Operation of the prior artvideo signal producing system of the above described arrangement isdescribed below with reference to FIGS. 36 and 37. FIGS. 36 and 37 arewave form diagrams of wave forms a, b and c outputted from therespective devices of the video signal producing system shown in FIG.35. Namely, “a” is an output signal of the imaging device 31, “b” is asignal recorded in the 24P recording device 32 and “c” is an outputsignal of the reproduction signal 33 for reproducing the signal recordedin the 24P recording device 32. Each numeral in FIGS. 36 and 37 denotesa frame number of each signal.

[0007] The imaging device outputs P imaging signals of frame rates of 24Hz, 60 Hz, 48 Hz, 30 Hz, 20 Hz and 15 Hz indicated by (a1), (a2),(a3), - - - , (a6) of FIGS. 36 and 37, respectively. For example, (a1)of FIG. 36 is a case of the P imaging signal of the 24P frame rate. Inthis case, the recording device 32 performs recording at a recordingspeed of a one-fold value of the 24P frame rate in (b1) of FIG. 36. Thereproduction device 33 also performs reproduction at a one-fold speed in(c1) of FIG. 36. Thus, a 24P signal which is an output signal of theso-called video signal can be obtained.

[0008] In 24P reproduction, reproduction of rapid feed or slow motion isnecessary for stage effect in production of video signals in some cases.In case this production is performed, output rate of output of theimaging device 31 is changed and recording speed of the recording device32 is changed accordingly, while the reproduction device 33 shouldperform reproduction at the one-fold value of the 24P frame rate. Forexample, slow motion reproduction of a (2/5)-fold speed is required tobe performed, the imaging signal 31 outputs a 60P imaging signal asshown in (a2) of FIG. 36 and the recording device 32 records a signal ata recording speed of a (2/5)-fold value of the 24P frame rate as shownin (b2) of FIG. 36. Since the reproduction device 33 reproduces thissignal at the one-fold speed, the signal of the original 60 frames isconverted into a signal of 24 frames and thus, a video signal of slowmotion of the (2/5)-fold speed is obtained from (24/60=2/5). Likewise, acase in which the imaging device 31 outputs a 48P signal is shown in(a3), (b3) and (c3) of FIG. 36 and a case in which the imaging device 31outputs a 30P signal is shown in (a4), (b4) and (c4) of FIG. 37.

[0009] Meanwhile, in case rapid feed reproduction is required to beperformed, the imaging signal 31 outputs an imaging signal slower than24P, e.g., a 20P imaging signal as shown in (a5) of FIG. 37 and therecording device 32 records a signal at a recording speed of a (6/5)value of the 24P frame rate as shown in (a6) of FIG. 37. Since thereproduction device 33 reproduces this signal at the one-fold speed, thesignal of the original 20 frames is converted into a signal of 24 framesand thus, a video signal of rapid feed is obtained. Similarly, a case inwhich the imaging device 31 outputs a 15P signal corresponding to a(24/15)-fold speed is shown in (a6), (b6) and (c6) of FIG. 37.

[0010] Thus, in the prior art video signal producing system, theordinary 24P video signals and the 24P video signals of slow motion andrapid feed can be produced.

[0011] However, in the prior art video signal producing system referredto above, the ordinary 24P video signals and the 24P video signals ofslow motion and rapid feed can be produced but recording speed of therecording device is required to be changed in accordance with outputrate of the imaging signal of the imaging device, thereby resulting inincrease of its circuit scale and electric power. Therefore, in case animaging device and a recording device are incorporated in, for example,a VTR built-in imaging device, such drawbacks are incurred that theincorporation is difficult due to difficulty in more compactness andlower electric power.

[0012] On the other hand, FIG. 38 shows an arrangement example of avideo signal recording and reproducing apparatus in a conventional videosignal producing system. Meanwhile, FIG. 39 is a conceptual view ofsignal wave forms of respective portions of prior art. In FIG. 39, “A”,“B”, “C” and “D” correspond to signals A, B, C and D in FIG. 38 and“F1”, “F2”, - - - denote video signals of one frame, respectively. Theconventional video signal recording and reproducing apparatus of theabove described arrangement is described with reference to FIGS. 38 and39. In case an imaging unit 901 performs imaging by 24P signals,recording and reproduction can be performed directly without frame rateconversion of the 24P signals, etc. as shown in FIG. 39A if a recordingunit 103 and a reproduction unit 105 correspond to recording andreproduction of the 24P signals. One frame of the 24P signals reproducedafter editorial processing is printed on one frame of a film by akinescope recording (kineco) device as it is.

[0013] In case the imaging unit 901, the recording unit 103 and thereproduction unit 105 correspond to 60P signals (progressive signalshaving a frame rate of 60 Hz) such that the progressive signals have aframe rate twice that of, for example, current SD television signalformat or HD television signal format, the 24P signals are generallyobtained by periodically extracting intermediate frames from consecutiveframes in the reproduction unit 105 as shown in FIG. 39B and are printedon the film.

[0014] Furthermore, in order to replace film shooting by electronicvideo recording using a video camera and a VTR or a hard disc apparatus,it is essential to materialize slow motion in which shooting ispreliminarily performed by running the film at a speed higher than anordinary one and the film is run at the ordinary speed during projectionand, on the contrary, high-speed motion in which shooting ispreliminarily performed by running the film at a speed lower than theordinary one and the film is run at the ordinary speed duringprojection. In response to this demand, a multi-frame-rate type imagingdevice in which frame rate at the time of imaging can be set to anarbitrary value by controlling a charge coupled device (CCD) drivemethod of an imaging portion is proposed.

[0015] However, in the above described conventional video signalrecording and reproducing apparatus, in case slow motion or high-speedmotion is materialize at a simple ratio, for example, recording isperformed at a frame rate of 48P (progressive signals having a framerate of 48 Hz) and reproduction is performed at 24P or recording isperformed at 12P (progressive signals having a frame rate of 12 Hz) andreproduction is performed at 24P, this can be easily done in the caseof, for example, a VTR by manually setting a special reproduction jogdial to a (1/2)-fold speed or a 2-fold speed during reproduction.However, in case more delicate speed control is attempted, for example,in shooting of a scene of a ship cruising on the sea, a miniature shipis shot by beforehand raising film speed and motion of the ship isdisplayed more dynamically by running the film at the ordinary speedduring reproduction or on the contrary, in order to display a boxingscene more fiercely, shooting is performed by preliminarily loweringfilm speed slightly and an actor's action is made rapid to such a degreeas to eliminate unnaturalness by running the film at the ordinary speedduring reproduction, such cases may happen in which set speed obtainedby manual setting of the jog dial of the VTR is not continuouslyvariable, adjustment to a desired predetermined speed cannot beperformed and high accuracy in reproduction speed cannot be obtained.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0016] In view of these points, the present invention has for its objectto provide a video signal producing system which can be materializedwithout increasing circuit scale of a recording device even if, forexample, a VTR built-in imaging device or the like is used as an imagingdevice and the recording device

[0017] In order to solve the above described problems, the presentinvention also has for its object to provide a video signal recordingand reproducing apparatus for use in the video signal producing system,in which by recording together with video signals information on framerate for recording, desired frame rate is obtained during reproductionsuch that slow motion reproduction and high-speed motion reproductioncan be performed easily.

[0018] In order to accomplish this object, a video signal producingsystem of the present invention includes an imaging device for obtainingprogressive imaging signals having various frame rates, a recordingdevice for recording an output signal of the imaging device and areproduction device for reproducing a recording signal obtained from therecording device. The imaging device includes a frame rate convertingportion for converting the imaging signals to an output having apredetermined frame rate and the reproduction device changes areproduction speed in response to each of the various frame rates so asto generate an output having a substantial number of frames such thatthe substantial number of the frames assumes a predetermined value.

[0019] As a result, since the imaging signals having the various framerates at the predetermined frame rate and the substantial number of theframes in a reproduction signal can be set to the predetermined value.

[0020] Meanwhile, in a video signal recording apparatus of a videosignal producing system, according to the present invention, when aninput video signal having a frame rate equal to an m multiple of astandard frame rate of a recording format is recorded on a recordingmedium in the recording format for each frame, rate informationindicative of the frame rate of the input video signal directly orindirectly is recorded together with the input video signal.

[0021] As a result, since the rate information is recorded on therecording medium together with the input video signal, the rateinformation at the time of the rate information can be obtained at thetime of reproduction.

[0022] In a video signal reproducing apparatus of a video signalproducing system, according to the present invention, when from arecording medium on which an input video signal having a frame rateequal to an m multiple of a standard frame rate of a recording formatand rate information indicative of the frame rate of the input videosignal directly or indirectly are recorded in the recording format foreach frame, the input video signal and the rate information arereproduced such that the input video signal is reproduced at a furtherframe rate different from the standard frame rate, the input videosignal is reproduced and outputted at a predetermined multiple of areproduction speed determined by the rate information.

[0023] As a result, by using the reproduced rate information, setting tothe predetermined reproduction speed can be performed easily.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a videosignal producing system according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0025]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one example of a configurationof a frame rate converting portion of the video signal producing systemof FIG. 1.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a signal wave-form diagram explanatory of operation ofthe frame rate converting portion of FIG. 2.

[0027]FIG. 4 is a signal conceptual view explanatory of operation of thevideo signal producing system of FIG. 1.

[0028]FIG. 5 is a signal conceptual view explanatory of operation of thevideo signal producing system of FIG. 1.

[0029]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing one example of a configurationof a frame rate converting portion of a video signal producing systemaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0030]FIG. 7 is a signal wave-form diagram explanatory of operation ofthe frame rate converting portion of FIG. 6.

[0031]FIG. 8 is a signal conceptual view explanatory of operation of theframe rate converting portion of FIG. 6.

[0032]FIG. 9 is a signal conceptual view explanatory of output signalsof a reproduction device of a video signal producing system according toa third embodiment of the present invention.

[0033]FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a videosignal producing system according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0034]FIG. 11 is a signal wave-form diagram explanatory of operation ofa drive pulse generation control circuit of the video signal producingsystem.

[0035]FIG. 12 is a signal conceptual view explanatory of output signalsof an imaging portion and a frame rate converting portion of the videosignal producing system of FIG. 10.

[0036]FIG. 13 is a signal conceptual view explanatory of output signalsof the imaging portion and the frame rate converting portion of thevideo signal producing system of FIG. 10.

[0037]FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a videosignal producing system according to a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0038]FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing one configuration of a flagsignal generating portion of the video signal producing system of FIG.14.

[0039]FIG. 16 is a view explanatory of operation of the flag signalgenerating portion of FIG. 15.

[0040]FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing another configuration of theflag signal generating portion of the video signal producing system ofFIG. 14.

[0041]FIG. 18 is a view explanatory of operation of the flag signalgenerating portion of FIG. 17.

[0042]FIG. 19 is a signal conceptual view explanatory of operation ofthe video signal producing system of FIG. 14.

[0043]FIG. 20 is a signal conceptual view explanatory of operation ofthe video signal producing system of FIG. 14.

[0044]FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a videosignal producing system according to a sixth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0045]FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a flagsignal converting and adding portion of the video signal producingsystem of FIG. 21.

[0046]FIG. 23 is a view explanatory of operation of the flag signalconverting and adding portion of FIG. 22.

[0047]FIG. 24 is a signal conceptual view explanatory of state of a flagsignal added to an imaging signal of the video signal producing systemof FIG. 21.

[0048]FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a configuration of areproduction device of a video signal producing system according to aseventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0049]FIG. 26 is a signal conceptual view explanatory of operation ofthe video signal producing system of FIG. 25.

[0050]FIG. 27 is a block diagram of a video signal recording andreproducing apparatus of a video signal producing system according to aneighth embodiment of the present invention.

[0051]FIG. 28 is a conceptual view of recording video signal wave formand reproduction video signal wave form of the video signal recordingand reproducing apparatus of FIG. 27.

[0052]FIG. 29 is a block diagram of a video signal recording andreproducing apparatus of a video signal producing system according to aninth embodiment of the present invention.

[0053]FIG. 30 is a conceptual view of recording video signal wave form,reproduction video signal wave form and conversion information wave formduring shooting of the video signal recording and reproducing apparatusof FIG. 29 at an ordinary frame rate.

[0054]FIG. 31 is a conceptual view of recording video signal wave form,reproduction video signal wave form and conversion information wave formduring slow motion shooting of the video signal recording andreproducing apparatus of FIG. 29.

[0055]FIG. 32 is a conceptual view of recording video signal wave form,reproduction video signal wave form and conversion information wave formduring high-speed motion shooting of the video signal recording andreproducing apparatus of FIG. 29.

[0056]FIG. 33 is a block diagram of a video signal recording andreproducing apparatus of a video signal producing system according to atenth embodiment of the present invention.

[0057]FIG. 34 is a conceptual view of recording video signal wave form,reproduction video signal wave form and conversion information wave formof the video signal recording and reproducing apparatus of FIG. 33.

[0058]FIG. 35 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a prior artvideo signal producing system.

[0059]FIG. 36 is a signal wave-form diagram of portions of the prior artvideo signal producing system of FIG. 35.

[0060]FIG. 37 is a signal wave-form diagram of portions of the prior artvideo signal producing system of FIG. 35.

[0061]FIG. 38 is a block diagram of a video signal recording andreproducing apparatus of a conventional video signal producing system.

[0062]FIG. 39 is a conceptual view of recording video signal wave formand reproduction video signal wave form of the conventional video signalrecording and reproducing apparatus of FIG. 38.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0063] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are describedwith reference to the drawings.

[0064] (First Embodiment)

[0065]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a video signal producing systemaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, “1”is an imaging portion for outputting P signals of various frame rates,“2” is a frame rate converting portion for converting the frame rates ofthe output signals of the imaging portion 1 to a predetermined framerate, “3” is a recording device for recording output signals of theframe rate converting portion 2 and “4” is a reproduction device forreproducing the signals recorded by the recording device 3. Meanwhile,in FIG. 1, “H1” and “V1” are horizontal and vertical synchronous signalsoutputted from a synchronous signal generating portion (not shown) tothe imaging portion 1 and “H2” and “V2” are horizontal and verticalsynchronous signals after frame rate conversion.

[0066] Hereinafter, operation of the video signal producing system ofthe above described arrangement is described with reference to FIGS. 2to 5. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one example of an internalconfiguration of the frame rate converting portion 2 in the firstembodiment. FIG. 3 is a view explanatory of operation of the frame rateconverting portion 2 and FIGS. 4 and 5 are signal wave-form diagrams ofthe respective portions shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, “5” and “6” areframe memories, “7” is a control circuit for controlling write and readof the frame memories 5 and 6 and “8” is a switching circuit.

[0067] The frame rate converting portion 2 operates based on thesynchronous signals H1, V1, H2 and V2 as shown in FIG. 3. In FIGS. 2 and3, each of write enable signals W1 and W2 of the frame memories 5 and 6and read enable signals R1 and R2 of the frame memories 5 and 6 has anenable period when it is at low level. For example, imaging signals a offrame rates of 60P and 20P inputted from the imaging portion 1 areconverted to a predetermined frame rate of 60P. FIG. 3A shows a case ofinput of imaging signals having a frame rate of 60P. Since an input andan output have the same frame rate, write is alternately performed inthe frame memories 5 and 6 at the frame rate of 60P and read isalternately performed in the frame memories 5 and 6 at the frame rate of60P. Meanwhile, in FIG. 3B showing a case of input of imaging signalshaving a frame rate of 20P, write of one frame is performed at the framerate of 20P and read is performed at the frame rate of 60P. Thus, inthis case, an identical signal is outputted in three frames at 60 Hz. Asdescribed above, frame rate conversion can be easily performed by, forexample, performing write and read in the two frame memoriesalternately.

[0068] By the frame rate converting portion 2 referred to above, outputsignals of the imaging portion 1, namely, imaging signals having variousframe rates, for example, a1 of 60P, a2 of 30P, a3 of 20P and a4 of 15Pare all converted to signals b1, b2, b3 and b4 having a frame rate of60P as shown in FIG. 4 and are outputted to the recording device 3.Meanwhile, each numeral in the figure denotes a frame number of eachsignal. The recording device 3 records signals from the imaging deviceat a frame rate of 60P at all times.

[0069] Then, the reproduction device 4 operates as shown in FIG. 5 so asto set a substantial number of frames to a predetermined number. In thiscase, the reproduction device 4 performs conversion so as to set thenumber of frames to 24P. For example, in the case of a 30P imagingsignal in FIG. 5, an identical signal is recorded in each of two framesat a rate of 60P by the recording device 3 as shown by c2 and byselecting one of the two frames, reproduction speed is changed such thata rate of 60P is set to a rate of 24P. Time axis is expanded to (2/5)times. Since the signals of two frames at 60P are substantiallyconverted to a rate of 24P, namely, 30P is converted to 24P, areproduction signal d2 of a (4/5)-fold speed is obtained. Therefore, incomparison with a case in which imaging signals are originally 24Psignals, 24P reproduction signals of slightly slow motion are obtained.

[0070] Likewise, in the case of 20P imaging signals, an identical signalis recorded in each of three frames at a rate of 60P as shown by c3 andby selecting one of the three frames, reproduction speed is changed suchthat a rate of 60P is set to a rate of 24P. In this case, since 20P issubstantially converted to 24P, a reproduction signal d3 of (6/5)-foldspeed is obtained. Thus, 24P reproduction signals of slightly rapid feedare obtained. The same applies to imaging signals of other frame rates.For example, in the case of 60P of c1, conversion to a reproductionsignal d1 of (2/5)-fold speed is performed. In the case of 15P of c4,conversion to a reproduction signal d4 of (8/5)-fold speed is performed.

[0071] In accordance with the first embodiment of the present inventiondescribed above, since the signals having the various frame rates, whichare obtained by the imaging device, are converted to the signals havingthe predetermined frame rate such that the recording device can recordat the predetermined frame rate, for example, at a frame rate of 60P atall times, the imaging device and the recording device of the videosignal producing system can be arranged without increase of circuitscale and electric power in a VTR built-in imaging device in which animaging device and a recording device are provided integrally, forexample, a camera recorder.

[0072] Furthermore, by combining also the reproduction device with theimaging device and the recording device, 24P video signal can bereproduced by selection of signals and reproduction speed conversion atthe predetermined ratios.

[0073] Meanwhile, it is needless to say that positional detection ofeach frame change in the reproduction device may be performed byselecting a necessary frame signal according to a rule determinedpreliminarily based on the synchronous signals H1, V1, H2 and V2 orchanging over operation of frame selection in response to the frame rateof the imaging signal and the frame rate of the reproduction device.

[0074] (Second Embodiment)

[0075]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of aframe rate converting portion 2 of a video signal producing systemaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6,“9” is a frame memory, “10” is a frame memory control circuit forcontrolling write and read of the frame memory 9, “11” is a frame rateconversion ratio calculating circuit for calculating a conversion ratioof a frame rate of an inputted imaging signal and a predetermined framerate obtained by the frame rate converting portion 2 and “12” is aswitching circuit. The second embodiment is different from the firstembodiment in that the frame rate converting portion 2 is provided withthe frame rate conversion ratio calculating circuit 11. Other circuitsare substantially identical with those of the first embodiment and theoperations are also similar to those of the first embodiment.

[0076] Hereinafter, operation of the video signal producing system ofthe above described arrangement is described with reference to FIGS. 7and 8. FIG. 7 is a signal wave-form diagram explanatory of operation ofthe frame memory control circuit 10 and the frame memory in the casewhere imaging signals are of 48P and 24P and frame rate after conversionis 60P, while FIG. 8 is a signal conceptual view indicative of relationbetween an input signal and an output signal of the frame rateconverting portion 2 based on the operation of the frame memory controlcircuit 10 and the frame memory 9. Meanwhile, each numeral in FIGS. 7and 8 corresponds to a frame number.

[0077] For example, in the case of the 48P imaging signal, the framerate 60P after conversion is not an integral multiple of 48P in contrastwith 20P, 30P, etc. In this case, a ratio of the input frame rate of 48Pto the frame rate of 60P after conversion is (4/5), so that a time of 4frames of 48P coincides with a time of 5 frames of 60P. Therefore, theframe rate conversion ratio calculating circuit 11 outputs a controlsignal to the frame memory control circuit 10 such that read-out of theframe memory 9 outputs a signal of an identical frame one time in fivetimes. In response to this control signal, the frame memory controlcircuit 10 outputs a read enable signal shown in FIG. 7A. In the case ofthis 48P imaging signal, frame rate conversion is performed by using,for example, three frame memories in turns such that overtaking of writedoes not occur during read of the memory.

[0078] Similarly, in case the 24P imaging signal is converted to 60P,the conversion ratio is (2/5), so that a time of 2 frames of 24Pcoincides with a time of 5 frames of 60P. In this case, the frame rateconversion ratio calculating circuit 11 outputs a control signal to theframe memory control circuit 10 such that read-out of the frame memory 9outputs a signal of an identical frame two times in five times (i.e.,duplication of one time) and a signal of another frame three times(i.e., duplication of two times), namely, a total of times ofduplication is three (1+2=3). In response to this control signal, theframe memory control circuit 10 outputs a read enable signal shown inFIG. 7B. By such operation of the frame rate converting portion 2, theoutput signal is converted to the frame rate of 60P as shown by (b1-1)or (b1-2) of FIG. 8 in the case of 48P and (b2-1) or (b2-2) of FIG. 8 inthe case of 24P. At this time, predetermined frame intervals a1 t, b1 t,a2 t and b2 t have such relations as (a1 t=b1 t) and (a2 t=b2 t).

[0079] As described above in the second embodiment, in case the ratio ofthe frame rate before conversion to the frame rate after conversion iscalculated in the frame rate conversion ratio calculating circuit 11assumes (n/m) in which “n” and “m” are integers of (1≦n≦m) andcorrespond to values before and after conversion, respectively,especially, in case “n” is not 1, namely, (m/n) is not an integer,output is performed by duplicating a portion in n frames or all framesignals at the frame rate after conversion a total of (m−n) times suchthat a time of n frames of the signal of the frame rate beforeconversion coincides with a time of m frames of the signal of the framerate after conversion. Thus, by performing conversion so as to generatea regular frame signal sequence at an interval of m frames, conversionto the predetermined frame rate can be performed even if the conversionratio is complicated. In the case of (n=1), each frame is repeated (m−n)times in the same operation as the first embodiment. Meanwhile, therecording device 3 and the reproduction device 4 also operate in thesame manner as the first embodiment.

[0080] As a result, manner of conversion of the frame rate can beselected in accordance with the ratio of the frame rate beforeconversion to the frame rate after conversion.

[0081] As described above, even if the conversion ratio is complicated,the imaging signals of various frame rates can be converted to thesignal of, for example, 60P at all times in the same manner as the firstembodiment and recording can be performed in the recording device 3 atthe frame rate of 60P, so that the imaging device and the recordingdevice of the video signal producing system can be arranged withoutincrease of circuit scale and electric power in a VTR built-in imagingdevice in which an imaging device and a recording device are providedintegrally, for example, a camera recorder.

[0082] (Third Embodiment)

[0083]FIG. 9 is a signal conceptual view explanatory of output signalsof a reproduction device of a video signal producing system according toa third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment isdifferent from the first and second embodiments in manner ofreproduction speed conversion in the reproduction device. Thus, itswhole block diagram is similar to FIG. 1.

[0084] In FIG. 9, signals of the recording device 3 illustrate therecording signals obtained in the first embodiment or the secondembodiment. Namely, the frame rate after conversion at the frame rateconverting portion 2 is set to 60P. In the reproduction device 4, theframe rate is converted to the frame rate of 24P. As the input signal, a60P imaging signal, a 48P imaging signal, a 24P imaging signal and a 20Pimaging signal are illustrated.

[0085] Hereinafter, operation of the reproduction device 4 in the thirdembodiment is described. In the case of the 60P imaging signal, framenumber of the recording signal changes one by one at a rate of 60 framesas shown by (c1) of FIG. 9. However, in the reproduction device 4,frames are duplicated (repeated) such that a set of two successivedifferent frames, for example, frames of frame numbers 1 and 2 are setto two and three in number, respectively as shown by (d1-1) of FIG. 9 orthree and two in number, respectively as shown by (d1-2) of FIG. 9. Thesame applies to a set of the subsequent successive different frames, forexample, frames of frame numbers 3 and 4.

[0086] In the case of the 48P imaging signal, frame numbers of therecording signal assume 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, - - - as shown by(c3) of FIG. 9 and conversion is performed in a set of two successivedifferent frames, for example, frames of the frame numbers 1, 1, 2 suchthat the frame of the frame number 1 is duplicated one time up to atotal of 3 frames of the frame number 1 and the frame of the framenumber 2 is also duplicated one time up to a total of 2 frames of theframe number 2 as shown by (d3-1) of FIG. 9 or the 2 frames of the framenumber 1 are kept as they are and the frame of the frame number 2 isduplicated two times up to a total of 3 frames of the frame number 2 asshown by (d3-2) of FIG. 9. A set of the subsequent successive differentframes of the frame numbers 3 and 4 are duplicated in the same manner as60P.

[0087] Meanwhile, in the case of the 24P imaging signal of (c4) of FIG.9, since conversion of reproduction speed is not necessary, conversionis performed such that the recording signal is kept as it is as shown by(d4-1) of FIG. 9 or in a set of two successive different frames, forexample, frames of the frame numbers 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, one frame of theframe number 1 is deleted and one frame of the frame number 2 isduplicated as shown by (d4-2) of FIG. 9.

[0088] Meanwhile, in the case of the 20P imaging signal of (c2) of FIG.9, conversion is performed in a set of successive different frames, forexample, frames of the frame numbers 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2 such that oneframe of the frame number 1 is deleted up to a total of 2 frames of theframe number 1 and the 3 frames of the frame number 2 are kept as theyare as shown by (d2-1) of FIG. 9 or the 3 frame of the frame number 1are kept as they are and one frame of the frame number 2 is deleted asshown by (d2-2) of FIG. 9. The same applies to a set of the subsequentsuccessive different frames of the frame numbers 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4.

[0089] As described above in the third embodiment, in case the framerate after conversion in the frame rate converting portion 2 is 60frames and the substantial number of frames in the reproduction device 4is 24P, reproduction speed is converted through duplication or deletionof frames in a set of signals of two different frames in respectiveinputted signals of 60 frames so as to obtain so-called 2-3 pull-downoutput in which the signal of the initial frame is repeated two timesand the signal of the next frame is repeated three times or the signalof the initial frame is repeated three times and the signal of the nextframe is repeated two times. Therefore, the substantial number of thesignal of the frame rate identical with that of recording, i.e., theframe rate of 60P is changed to 24P without conversion of time axisthrough mere selection or duplication of the frames such that conversionof reproduction speed can be performed. Meanwhile, since 2-3 pull-downtype output is obtained at all times, various reproduction video signalsof 24P from slow motion to rapid feed can be handled as a signal formatof 60P.

[0090] Meanwhile, in the third embodiment, the reproduction device 4 isprovided with a circuit which operates as described above so as toconvert reproduction speed. This circuit, needless to say, can be easilyobtained by, for example, a circuit which reproduces a signal at a rate60P identical with that of the input signal and write the signal in theframe memory, etc. so as to read the signal a plurality of times and aselector circuit or the like.

[0091] (Fourth Embodiment)

[0092]FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a videosignal producing system according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 10, “1” is an imaging portion for outputting Psignals of various frame rates, “2” is a frame rate converting portionfor converting the frame rates of the output signals of the imagingportion 1 to a predetermined frame rate, “3” is a recording device forrecording output signals of the frame rate converting portion 2, “4” isa reproduction device for reproducing the signals recorded by therecording device 3 and “13” is a drive pulse generation control circuitfor controlling drive pulses supplied to the imaging portion 1. In thefourth embodiment, the imaging portion 1 has a CCD type solid imagingelement. The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment inthat the drive pulse generation control circuit 13 performscharacteristic operation in the imaging device formed by the imagingportion 1 and the frame rate converting portion 2. Other circuits aresubstantially identical with those of the first embodiment and theoperations are also similar to those of the first embodiment.

[0093] Meanwhile, in FIG. 10, “H1” and “V1” are horizontal and verticalsynchronous signals outputted from a synchronous signal generatingportion (not shown) to the imaging portion 1 and “H2” and “V2” arehorizontal and vertical synchronous signals after frame rate conversionin the same manner as the first embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0094] Hereinafter, operation of the video signal producing system ofthe above described arrangement is described with reference to FIGS. 11,12 and 13. FIG. 11 is a signal wave-form diagram explanatory ofoperation of the drive pulse generation control circuit 13, while FIGS.12 and 13 are signal conceptual views explanatory of output signals ofthe imaging portion 1 and the frame rate converting portion 2.

[0095] In FIG. 11, (a), (b) and (c) show one example of CCD drive pulsesin case the imaging signal has a rate of 20P. In this case, a read pulseof (a) is outputted at a rate of 20P such that an accumulation time isset to {fraction (1/20)} sec. Meanwhile, a transfer pulse of (b)includes vertical and horizontal transfer pulses but is outputted suchthat transfer is completed by one frame of 20P. In addition, (c) shows aCCD signal output at this time. In this case, a CCD drive rate ofordinary 60P is simply set to its one-third in the drive pulses. In theimaging signals of the first and second embodiments, such drive signalsare obtained as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8. Therefore, as frame rate of theimaging signal becomes lower, delay of the signal outputted from theframe rate converting portion 2 through conversion becomes larger.

[0096] Hence, in the fourth embodiment, drive pulses fed to the CCD arecontrolled by the drive pulse generation control circuit 13 so as tobecome pulses shown in (a1), (b1) and (c1) of FIG. 11. Namely, a readpulse of (a1) is likewise outputted at a rate of 20P such that anaccumulation time is set to {fraction (1/20)} sec. but a transfer pulseis outputted at a 3-fold speed such that transfer of a signal of oneframe is completed at a rate of 60P. Thus, since the transfer pulsebecomes as shown in (b1) and a signal output becomes as shown in (c1), asignal having a rate of 20P can be obtained during an interval of oneframe having a rate of 60P. During the two subsequent frames,unnecessary signals irrelevant to the signals are outputted.

[0097] Meanwhile, in another control method of (a2), (b2) and (c2) ofFIG. 11, a read pulse of (a2) is likewise outputted but a transfer pulseof only one frame is outputted. As a result, an output signal of (c2) isobtained.

[0098] By employing the above described drive method in the drive pulsegeneration control circuit 13, output signals of the imaging portion 1and the frame rate converting portion 2 become as shown in FIGS. 12 and13. Namely, (a1) to (a4) are imaging signals, while (b1) to (b4),(b1-1), (b1-2), (b2-1) and (b2-2) are signals after frame rateconversion. In the fourth embodiment, since all imaging signals ofvarious frame rates are outputted at an interval of a frame rate of 60Pimaging signals as will be seen from FIGS. 12 and 13, all output signalsof the frame rate converting portion 2 have a delay time of one frame of60P, so that delay of the output signals can be restrained and the delayamount can be made identical for the imaging signals of all rates.Meanwhile, by setting a rate of output signals of the imaging portion 1and that of the frame rate converting portion 2 to 60P identically,timing, etc. of write and read of the frame memory are not required tobe adjusted for a plurality of rates, so that circuit operation of theframe rate converting portion 2 can be stabilized.

[0099] (Fifth Embodiment)

[0100]FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a videosignal producing system according to a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 14, “1” is an imaging portion for outputting Psignals of various frame rates, “2” is a frame rate converting portionfor converting the frame rates of the output signals of the imagingportion 1 to a predetermined frame rate, “3” is a recording device forrecording output signals of the frame rate converting portion 2, “4” isa reproduction device for reproducing the signals recorded by therecording device 3 and “14” is a flag signal generating portion forgenerating a flag signal indicative of changeover of frames in outputsignals of the frame rate converting portion 2. The fifth embodiment isdifferent from the first embodiment in that the imaging device isprovided with the flag signal generating portion 14 in addition to theimaging portion 1 and the frame rate converting portion 2. Othercircuits are substantially identical with those of the first embodimentand the operations are also similar to those of the first embodiment.

[0101] Hereinafter, operation of the video signal producing system ofthe above described arrangement is described with reference to FIGS. 15to 20. In the first embodiment, etc. of the present invention, thereproduction device 4 performs reproduction such that positions of framechanges in the reproduction device 4 are detected by either selectingnecessary frame signals upon rules determined preliminarily based on thesynchronous signals H1, V1, H2 and V2 or changing over frame selectionby a switch in response to a frame rate of the imaging signal and aframe rate of the reproduction device 4. The fifth embodiment isdesigned to simplify such operation.

[0102] The flag signal generating portion 14 outputs a flag signal findicative of a change of frames of signals outputted from the framerate converting portion 2 and the flag signal f is also recorded in therecording device 3 in the same manner as the signals from the frame rateconverting portion 2. On the basis of this flag signal f, thereproduction device 4 selects necessary frame signals and performsdefined operations. Manner of generation of the flag signal is describedwith reference to FIGS. 15 to 18. FIGS. 15 and 17 show examples of aninternal configuration of the flag signal generating portion 14. InFIGS. 15 and 17, “15” is a frequency division circuit, “16” is an ORcircuit and “17” is a 1-bit counter.

[0103] For example, in case the frame rate converting portion 2 outputsat a rate of 60P as shown by (a) of FIG. 16 and the recording device 3also records at a rate of 60P and the original frame rate of the imagingportion 1 is 20P as shown by (d) of FIG. 16, a signal of the recordingdevice 3 reaches a state shown by (c) of FIG. 16. At this time,changeover of frames is performed as shown by (e) of FIG. 16 and thus,is obtained by frequency division of vertical synchronization of theoriginal imaging signal. Points where this frequency division signal ischanged over between low level and high level are changeover points offrames. In case output signals of the frame rate converting portion 2have a frame rate of 60P and the original frame rate of the imagingportion 1 is (1/m) of 60P (m=integer≧1), for example, 20P, 30P, etc.,the flag signal generating portion 14 can be easily formed by thefrequency division circuit 15 shown in FIG. 15.

[0104] Meanwhile, when output signals of the imaging portion 1 includesignals of 24P, 48P, etc. as illustrated in FIG. 7 of the secondembodiment, the above described conditions do not apply. In this case,since changes of a read enable signal of the frame memory used in theframe rate converting portion 2, for example, changes of signals R1, R2and R3 shown in (b) of FIG. 18 correspond to changeover of frames in thecase of 48P, the changes are detected and the detection signals may beused as changeover signals of frames. For example, as shown by FIG. 17,the flag signal generating portion 2 can be easily formed by the ORcircuit 16 and the 1-bit counter 17 for receiving, as clocks, outputsignals of the OR circuit 16. Low level and high level of an output ((c)of FIG. 18) of the 1-bit counter 17 may be made corresponding to achangeover signal ((d) of FIG. 18) of frames.

[0105] By such operation of the flag signal generating portion 14, theflag signal of frame changeover can be obtained for various rates of theimaging signals, output signals of the frame rate converting portion 2and signals of the recording device 3 as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. Forexample, in FIG. 19, (a1) and (a3) denote imaging signal outputs, (b1)and (b3) denote signals after frame rate conversion, (f1) and (f3)denote flag signals of frame changeover, while in FIG. 20, (a1) and (a2)denote imaging signal outputs, (b1-1) and (b2-1) denote signals afterframe rate conversion and (f1-1) and (f2-1) denote flag signals of framechangeover.

[0106] As described above in the fifth embodiment, since the flag signalof frame changeover can be produced by the simple configuration and canbe recorded in the recording device together with the imaging signal,such information as synchronous signals of the imaging portion 1 and therecording device 3 are not required to be supplied to the reproductiondevice 4 separately. Meanwhile, a switch for changing over operation inresponse to the frame rate of the imaging portion 1, etc. are notrequired to be provided in the reproduction device 4 and video signalscan be reproduced automatically even if frame rate of the imagingportion 1 changes variously. As a result, signals indicative ofchangeover positions of frames can be obtained in the reproductiondevice 4.

[0107] (Sixth Embodiment)

[0108]FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a videosignal producing system according to a sixth embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 21, “1” is an imaging portion for outputting Psignals of various frame rates, “2” is a frame rate converting portionfor converting the frame rates of the output signals of the imagingportion 1 to a predetermined frame rate, “3” is a recording device forrecording output signals of the frame rate converting portion 2, “4” isa reproduction device for reproducing the signals recorded by therecording device 3, “14” is a flag signal generating portion forgenerating a flag signal indicative of changeover of frames in outputsignals of the frame rate converting portion 2 and “18” is a flag signalconverting and adding portion for converting the flag signal outputtedfrom the flag signal generating portion 14 so as to add the convertedflag signal to a signal converted by the frame rate converting portion2. The sixth embodiment is different from the first and fifthembodiments in that the imaging device is provided with the flag signalgenerating portion 14 and the flag signal converting and adding portion18 in addition to the imaging portion 1 and the frame rate convertingportion 2. Other circuits are substantially identical with those of thefirst and fifth embodiments and the operations are also similar to thoseof the first and fifth embodiments.

[0109] Hereinafter, operation of the video signal producing system ofthe above described arrangement is described with reference to FIGS. 22to 24. FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing one example of an internalconfiguration of the flag signal converting and adding portion 18 andFIG. 23 is a view explanatory of conversion in the flag signalconverting and adding portion 18. “19” is a delay circuit for impartinga predetermined delay time, “20” is an exclusive OR (EXOR) circuit and“21” is an adder. Meanwhile, FIG. 24 is a view explanatory of examplesof addition of a flag signal to an imaging signal.

[0110] The flag signal converting and adding portion 18 is formed by,for example, a circuit shown in FIG. 22. At this time, if a flag signalf indicative of changeovers of frames as shown in FIG. 23A is inputtedto the delay circuit 19, the flag signal f is delayed by a predeterminedperiod, for example, a severalfold value of H (H=horizontal scanninginterval) as shown in FIG. 23B. The EXOR circuit 20 processes this delayflag signal f1 d and the original flag signal f so as to output aconversion signal f1 shown in FIG. 23C. This conversion signal f1becomes high level during a severalfold period of H at a beginning andan end of each frame upon changeovers of frames. This conversion signalf1 is added by the adder 21 to the imaging signal subjected to frame andis outputted to the recording device 3.

[0111]FIG. 24 shows examples of addition of the converted flag signal f1to the imaging signal in the case of the 48P imaging signal and the 24Pimaging signal. Outputs of the imaging portion 1 are as shown in (a1)and (a2) of FIG. 24, respectively. These signals are converted to aframe rate of 60P by the frame rate converting portion 2. At this time,changeovers of frames are performed by output signals of the flag signalgenerating portion 14 as shown by (f1-1) and (f2-1) of FIG. 24. Thissignal is converted by the flag signal converting and adding portion 18referred to above and is added to the output signal of the frame rateconverting portion 2, so that signals of (g1) and (g2) of FIG. 24 areobtained. As will be apparent from these signals of (g1) and (g2), theflag signal is added to black solid portions corresponding to beginningportions of changeovers of frames (changeovers of frame numbers). Thesesignals of (g1) and (g2) are recorded in the recording device 3.

[0112] The reproduction device 4 performs processings such as selectionand duplication of frames on the basis of the flag signal recordedtogether with the signals and reproduces the 24P imaging signal in thesame manner as the third embodiment or the fifth embodiment.

[0113] As described in the sixth embodiment of the present invention,since the flag signal indicative of changeovers of frames is added tothe imaging signal itself so as to be recorded, such information assynchronous signals of the imaging portion 1 and the recording device 3are not required to be supplied to the reproduction device 4 separatelyand a switch for changing over operation in response to the frame rateof the imaging portion 1, etc. are not required to be provided in thereproduction device 4. Meanwhile, video signals can be reproducedautomatically even if frame rate of the imaging portion 1 changesvariously. As a result, signals indicative of changeover positions offrames can be obtained from the recording signal in the reproductiondevice 4.

[0114] Furthermore, in comparison with the fifth embodiment, aninterface for the flag signal necessary in addition to the signals, adelay circuit between the imaging device and the recording device, adelay circuit for imparting an identical delay time to a processing timeof the imaging signal up to recording of the recording device, etc. arenot required to be provided between the imaging device and the recordingdevice and circuit configuration is simplified.

[0115] Meanwhile, it is needless to say that a delay amount of the delaycircuit 19 of the flag signal converting and adding portion 18 is notlimited to the severalfold value of H in this embodiment but may be setto any proper value detectable by the reproduction device 4. Inaddition, any proper position other than an effective time of theimaging signal may be, needless to say, employed as positions for addingthe flag signal to the imaging signal.

[0116] (Seventh Embodiment)

[0117]FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a configuration of areproduction device of a video signal producing system according to aseventh embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 25, “22” is a fixedrate reproduction portion for reproducing the imaging signal and theflag signal at a fixed rate and “23” is an imaging signal storageportion for storing only imaging signals in which frames have beenchanged over by the flag signal. The seventh embodiment is differentfrom the fifth and sixth embodiments in that the fixed rate reproductionportion 22 and the imaging signal storage portion 23 are provided in thereproduction device. Other circuits and the operations are similar tothose of the fifth and sixth embodiments.

[0118] Hereinafter, operation of the video signal producing system ofthe above described arrangement is described with reference to FIG. 26.FIG. 26 is a view explanatory of operations of the fixed ratereproduction portion 22 and the imaging signal storage portion 23 at thetime the imaging signal is of 48P and 24P, a frame rate after conversionin the frame rate converting portion 2 is 60P and an output signal ofthe reproduction device 4 is of 24P. The fixed rate reproduction portion22 outputs the imaging signal and the flag signal at a rate of 60P inthe same manner as recording in the recording device 3. In FIG. 26,(g-1) and (g-2) denote outputs of the fixed rate reproduction portion 22in the case where the original imaging signal is a 48P imaging signaland a 24P imaging signal, respectively. The image signal storage portion23 stores only frames which have been changed over by the flag signal.In FIG. 26, (h-1) and (h-2) illustrate storage operations in the imagingsignal storage portion 23 in the case where the original imaging signalis the 48P imaging signal and the 24P imaging signal, respectively suchthat only frames having a high-level signal are stored. The imagingsignal storage portion 23 outputs the imaging signal at a fixed framerate of 24P. In FIG. 26, (i-1) and (i-2) represent output signals of theimaging signal storage portion 23 in the case where the original imagingsignal is the 48P imaging signal and the 24P imaging signal,respectively. As a result, a reproduction signal having the fixed ratecan be obtained in the reproduction device 4.

[0119] As described above in the seventh embodiment, the imaging signalstorage portion 23 stores and outputs only the necessary frames afterreproduction of the fixed rate reproduction portion 22 at the fixedframe rate in the reproduction device 4. Thus, in case the recordingdevice 3 is formed by, for example, a VTR, a conventional VTR having afixed frame rate can be used as the fixed rate reproduction portion 22,so that the system can be manufactured at low cost.

[0120] Meanwhile, the imaging signal storage portion may store theimaging signal temporarily and can be easily formed by a hard disc, asemiconductor memory or the like apparently. If peripheral devices formaking checkups of the imaging devices, etc. are taken intoconsideration, it is needless to say that 2-3 pull-down format (60Pframe rate) in which the output of the frame rate converting portion 2is of 60P and the output of the reproduction device 4 is of 24P forobtaining video signals is preferable in all the embodiments.

[0121] Meanwhile, in the first to seventh embodiments, if the outputsignal of the reproduction device 4 is a 24P signal of the 2-3 pull-downformat (60P frame rate), conversion to the original video signal havingthe frame rate of 24P can be, needless to say, performed easily byreverse 2-3 pull-down processing.

[0122] Moreover, in the first to seventh embodiments, the recordingdevice and the reproduction device are not limited to a VTR built-inimaging device or a stationary VTR but may be a nonlinear device such asa hard disc or a disc apparatus such as an optical disc.

[0123] (Eighth Embodiment)

[0124]FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a videosignal recording and reproducing apparatus of a video signal producingsystem according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 27, “101” is an m-fold frame rate imaging unit which images at aframe rate of an m (m>0) multiple of a standard frame rate (the numberof frames per second) of a recording format so as to output the signal,“102” is a rate information input terminal for inputting rateinformation, “103” is a recording unit for converting into recordinginformation the video signal imaged by the m-fold frame rate imagingunit 101 and the rate information inputted from the rate informationinput terminal 102 so as to record the recording information in arecording medium 104, “105” is a reproduction unit for reproducing thevideo signal and the rate information from the recording medium 104,“106” is an operational information input terminal for inputtingoperational information, “107” is an operational controller forcontrolling the reproduction unit 105 in accordance with the operationalinformation inputted from the operational information input terminal 106and rate information obtained from the reproduction unit 105 and “108”is an output terminal for outputting a reproduction video signal.

[0125] Hereinafter, operation of the video signal recording andreproducing apparatus of the above described arrangement is described.In this embodiment, the standard frame rate of the recording format isset at 24 Hz. Meanwhile, a video signal format for recording is aprogressive video signal format in which one frame acts as a unit ofrecording and display. Furthermore, a VTR in which a recording andreproducing head is mounted on a rotary cylinder and information isrecorded on a magnetic tape by helical scanning of the recording andreproducing head is supposed to form a recording and reproducingportion. In case recording and reproduction are performed at thestandard frame rate (standard speed), rate information indicative of aframe rate directly or indirectly, here, a rate “m” relative to 1corresponding to the standard frame rate is inputted from the rateinformation input terminal 102 and the m-fold frame rate imaging unit101 performs imaging by setting m to 1 so as to output video informationof 24P, namely, at a frame rate of 24 Hz. The recording unit 103converts into the recording information to be recorded on the recordingmedium 104, the video information output from the m-fold frame rateimaging unit 101 and the rate information from the rate informationinput terminal 102 and records the recording information in therecording medium 104 sequentially.

[0126] In conversion of the video information and recording in therecording medium 104 by the recording unit 103 in the case of, forexample, digital VTR (DV) of SMPTE 306M Standards, which is widely usedfrom field of consumer electronics to broadcasting business, shufflingis performed in which the order of video information of one frame isrearranged by using predetermined pixel blocks as a unit. Then,high-frequency encoding for reducing information amount to apredetermined amount at a unit of predetermined pixel blocks and errorcorrection encoding for preliminarily adding redundant data for errorcorrection so as to prevent occurrence of errors due to missing of videoinformation data, etc. during reproduction are performed. Furthermore,after channel coding for performing conversion into codes enablingefficient recording on the magnetic tape has been performed, recordingis performed on the magnetic tape by helical scanning of the magnetictape via a recording amplifier and the recording head. As a result, aseries of processings have been completed.

[0127] At this time, the recording unit 103 of this embodiment processesthe input video information and the rate information as described aboveand adjusts the number of revolutions of helical scanning of therecording and reproducing head, a feed rate of the magnetic tape actingas the recording medium 104, etc. such that the output of the recordingunit 103 is recorded on the recording medium 104 at a period of 24 Hz.In this embodiment, the rate information from the rate information inputterminal 102 is adapted to be preliminarily stored at a predeterminedlocation of the recording information outputted from the recording unit103. The storage location of the rate information may be any locationfrom which the rate information can be fetched properly and timely whennecessary at the time of reproduction. For example, in a DV type VTR, auser's bit pack of a time code in a sub-code may be employed as thestorage location. During reproduction, the reproduction unit 105 obtainsthe reproduction video signal from the recording medium 104 in thereverse order of recording and, at the same time, fetches the rateinformation stored at the predetermined location of the reproductionvideo signal so as to input the rate information to the operationalcontroller.

[0128] The operational controller 107 controls the reproduction unit 105on the basis of the operational information from the operationalinformation input terminal 106 and the rate information obtained fromthe reproduction unit 105 such that the reproduction video signal of apredetermined frame rate is obtained from the output terminal 108. Inputfrom the operational information input terminal 106 corresponds tosetting of a reproduction speed, etc. by an operator. For example, ifthe operational information from the operational information inputterminal 106 designates reproduction at the standard frame rate, theinputted rate information is (m=1), so that the operational controller107 adjusts the number of revolutions of helical scanning of therecording and reproducing head and the feed rate of the magnetic tape inthe reproduction unit 105 such that the reproduction unit 105 reproducesthe recording information from the recording medium 104 at a period of24 Hz.

[0129] Then, a case of slow motion video production is described inwhich a video signal having a frame rate of 30 Hz is recorded and asignal having a frame rate of 24 Hz is obtained by performing (4/5)-foldspeed slow reproduction. In this case, the rate information from therate information input terminal 102 is set to, for example, (m=5/4) andthe m-fold frame rate imaging unit 101 performs imaging at a frame rateof 30 Hz from (24×5/4). Then, the video information and the rateinformation are recorded on the recording medium 104 by the recordingunit 103 in the same manner as recording and reproduction at thestandard frame rate. However, at this time, the number of revolutions ofhelical scanning and the feed rate of the magnetic tape in the recordingunit 103 is also set to 30 Hz such that signal recording is performed onthe recording medium 104.

[0130]FIG. 28A is a conceptual view of wave form of the recording videosignal at (m=5/4). As shown in FIG. 28A, one frame spans ({fraction(1/30)}) sec. and F1, F2, - - - illustrate each of frames. Duringreproduction, the video information and the rate information arereproduced in the same manner as recording and reproduction at thestandard frame rate. However, if the operational information from theoperational information input terminal 106 designates reproduction atthe standard frame rate of 24 Hz, the operational controller 107 adjuststhe number of revolutions of helical scanning of the recording andreproducing head and the feed rate of the magnetic tape in thereproduction unit 105 and the reproduction unit 105 reproduces therecording information from the recording medium 104 at the standardframe rate of 24 Hz so as to obtain the reproduction video signal in thereverse order of recording and outputs the reproduction video signalfrom the output terminal 108. At this time, the reproduction videosignal exhibits a slow motion video having a speed equal to (4/5) ofthat of recording. FIG. 28B is a conceptual view of wave form of thereproduction video signal reproduced at the standard frame rate. Asshown in FIG. 28B, one frame spans ({fraction (1/24)}) sec. and F1, F2,illustrate each of frames.

[0131] In the operational controller 107, the recording rate informationof (m=5/4) fetched by the reproduction unit 105 is obtained. Hence, itcan be easily recognized from only the reproduction information from therecording medium 104 that if reproduction is performed at a period of 24Hz, the slow motion video of (4/5)-fold speed is obtained.

[0132] On the other hand, if reproduction is set at, for example, thesame frame rate (motion speed) as that of recording by the operationalinformation from the operational information input terminal 106,reproduction rate information is (m=5/4), so that the number ofrevolutions of helical scanning of the recording and reproducing headand the feed rate of the magnetic tape in the reproduction unit 105 areautomatically adjusted by the control information from the operationalcontroller 107 such that the recording information is reproduced fromthe recording medium 104 at a period of 30 Hz. Consequently,reproduction can be performed at the same frame rate as that ofrecording.

[0133] As described above, if the rate information indicating at whichmultiple of the standard frame rate imaging and recording have beenperformed is recorded on the recording medium 104 together with thevideo signal, the rate information at the time of recording is obtainedat the time of reproduction, so that it becomes easy to set thereproduction speed at a predetermined value.

[0134] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, a case has been described in whichimaging is performed at high speed beforehand and reproduction isperformed at the standard frame rate such that the slow motion video isobtained. The same applies to a case in which imaging is performed atlow speed and reproduction is performed at the standard frame rate suchthat high speed motion is obtained and other speeds can be easilyobtained in a similar procedure without the need for fine manualsetting.

[0135] Meanwhile, the rate information is m itself indicative of theratio of the recording frame rate to the standard frame rate but mayalso indicate the recording frame rate itself without indicating afrequency relation relative to the standard frame rate.

[0136] The rate information can be stored in the user's bit pack of thetime code in the sub-code as described above but may be stored at anylocation from which the rate information can be fetched timely whennecessary.

[0137] Meanwhile, as described above, recording is performed on therecording medium 104 at the frame frequency identical with the framerate of the recording video signal, which is set by the rateinformation. However, by dividing information in one frame by n (n=1,2, - - - ), recording and reproduction may also be performed at afrequency equal to an n multiple of the frame rate of the recordingvideo signal.

[0138] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the standard frame rate of therecording format is 24 Hz. However, other frame rates than 24 Hz bringabout effects of this embodiment.

[0139] (Ninth Embodiment)

[0140]FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a videosignal recording and reproducing apparatus of a video signal producingsystem according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.29, blocks operating in the same manner as those of the video signalrecording and reproducing apparatus of the eighth embodiment aredesignated by identical numerals and the description is abbreviated.

[0141] In FIG. 29, “201” is a recording rate converter which performsrate conversion of a video signal A imaged by the m-fold frame rateimaging unit 101 in accordance with the rate information from the rateinformation input terminal 102 so as to output a video signal Bsubjected to rate conversion and conversion information and “202” is areproduction rate converter which receives the reproduction video signalB and the conversion information reproduced by the reproduction unit 105so as to convert the reproduction rate of the reproduction video signalB under control of the operational controller 107.

[0142] Hereinafter, operation of the video signal recording andreproducing apparatus of the above described arrangement is described.In this embodiment, the standard frame rate of the recording format isset at 60 Hz. A video signal format is a progressive video signal formatin which one frame acts as a unit of recording and display. Moreover, inthe recording unit 103, the video signal of the signal format having theframe rate of 60 Hz is recorded at the standard speed. In case the inputsignal whose frame rate is not 60 Hz is recorded, the frame rate isconverted to 60 Hz by the recording rate converter 201 and then,recording is performed. Meanwhile, a VTR in which information isrecorded on the magnetic tape by helical scanning of the recording andreproducing head is supposed to form a recording and reproducingportion.

[0143] Initially, in case imaging is performed at a frame rate of 24Pand then, recording is performed at the standard frame rate of 60 Hz ofthe recording format, the rate information indicative of the frame ratedirectly or indirectly is inputted from the rate information inputterminal 102. The m-fold frame rate imaging unit 101 performs imaging bysetting m to (2/5) (=24/60) in accordance with the rate information andoutputs the video signal A of 24 Hz. In this embodiment, m itself isemployed as the rate information.

[0144] The recording rate converter 201 performs, on the basis of therate information inputted from the rate information input terminal 102,rate conversion of the video signal A inputted from the m-fold framerate imaging unit 101 so as to obtain the video signal B and outputs thevideo signal B. FIG. 30 is a conceptual view of recording video signalwave form, reproduction video signal wave form and conversioninformation wave form during shooting of the video signal recording andreproducing apparatus of this embodiment at an ordinary frame rate. Inthis embodiment, as shown in FIG. 30B, for example, operation ofrepeatedly inserting a video signal having one frame of ({fraction(1/24)}) sec. periodically is performed in the video signal A of FIG.30A and one frame is outputted in ({fraction (1/60)}) sec. so as toobtain the video signal B having the recording frame rate of 60 Hz.

[0145] As a concrete example of (m=2/5) in a method of converting thenumber of frames, in which the frame rate of the output video signal(video signal B) is set to the standard frame rate of 60 Hz of therecording format, 5 frames are outputted during an interval of 2 framesof the input video signal (video signal A) from (1/m=5/2) as shown inFIG. 30B. To this end, for example, if an odd-numbered frame is repeatedthree times and an even-numbered frame is repeated two times and oneframe is outputted in ({fraction (1/60)}) sec., the frame rate of 60 Hzcan be obtained. The recording rate converter 201 not only outputs thevideo signal B but outputs, as the conversion information, to thesubsequent stage repeat flags (FIG. 30C) acting as conversion flagsindicative of positions of changes of contents of the video signal Bbetween neighboring ones of the video frames outputted continuously inthe video signal B and the rate information of (m=2/5). One-bitinformation is allocated to the repeat flags such that the repeat flagsassume “1” for the frames having the identical video signal contents,i.e., the frames F1 in FIG. 30B, “0” for the subsequent frames havingthe identical video signal contents, i.e., the frames F2 in FIG. 30B and“1” for the further subsequent frames having the identical video signalcontents, i.e., the frames 3 in FIG. 30B.

[0146] The recording unit 103 converts into the recording information tobe recorded on the recording medium 104, the video signal B and theconversion information from the recording rate converter 201 and recordsthe recording information in the recording medium 104 sequentially.Conversion of the video signal and recording in the recording medium 104by the recording unit 103 are performed in the same manner as the eighthembodiment of the present invention. Storage of the conversioninformation is also performed in the same manner as storage of the rateinformation of the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[0147] During reproduction, the information recorded on the recordingmedium 104 is reproduced by the reproduction unit 105 and the videosignal B is outputted in the reverse operation of recording. At the sametime, the conversion information stored at the predetermined location isseparated and outputted. At this time, if output from the outputterminal 108 is set by the operational information from the operationalinformation input terminal 106 so as to be generated at 24 Hz identicalwith the imaging rate at the time of recording, the operationalcontroller 107 controls the reproduction unit 105 on the basis of therate information (m) in the conversion information such that thereproduction unit 105 reproduces information in a (24/60)×(1/m)-foldspeed special reproduction mode. The frame rate of the reproductionvideo signal outputted from the reproduction unit 105 is 60 Hz at alltimes. In the case of (m=2/5), a wave form conceptual view (FIG. 30D) ofthe reproduction video signal B is exactly the same as the wave formconceptual view (FIG. 30B) of the video signal B at the time ofrecording. Meanwhile, the repeat flags fetched simultaneously from thereproduction conversion information are shown in FIG. 30E.

[0148] In the reproduction rate converter 202, two frames are selectedfrom five frames in the inputted reproduction video signal B shown inFIG. 30D so as to be outputted. More specifically, in simultaneouslyinputted repeat flags shown in FIG. 30E, time axis of only an initialframe subsequent to each of points of changes of values of the repeatflags is expanded so as to be converted to the video signal of 24 Hz asshown in FIG. 30F such that the video signal of 24 Hz is outputted tothe output terminal 108. In this embodiment, FIGS. 30A and 30Fillustrate the video signal of 24P identically.

[0149] Then, a case of slow motion video production in which a videosignal having a frame rate of 30 Hz is recorded and a slow motion videosignal having a frame rate of 24 Hz is obtained by performing (4/5)-foldspeed slow reproduction is described with reference to FIG. 31. FIG. 31is a conceptual view of recording video signal wave form, reproductionvideo signal wave form and conversion information wave form during slowmotion shooting of the video signal recording and reproducing apparatusof this embodiment. Initially, the rate information from the rateinformation input terminal 102 is (m=1/2) and imaging is performed at aframe rate of 30 (=60×1/2) Hz by the m-fold frame rate imaging unit 101as shown in FIG. 31A. Then, in the recording rate converter 201, eachframe of the video signal A inputted to the recording rate converter 201is repeated two times from (1/m=2) based on the simultaneously inputtedrate information (m=1/2) and one frame is outputted at a frame rate of({fraction (1/60)}) sec. in the same manner as the eighth embodiment, sothat the converted video signal B having a frame rate of 60 Hz can beobtained as shown in FIG. 31B. Subsequently, in the recording unit 103,the video signal B from the recording rate converter 201 and theconversion information composed of the rate information m and the repeatflags of FIG. 31C in the recording rate converter 201 are converted intothe recording information to be recorded on the recording medium 104 inthe same manner as the eighth embodiment and then, the recordinginformation is sequentially recorded on the recording medium 104.

[0150] During reproduction, the information recorded on the recordingmedium 104 is reproduced by the reproduction unit 105 and thereproduction video signal B is outputted by the reverse operation ofrecording. At the same time, the conversion information stored at thepredetermined location is also separated and outputted. At this time, ifoutput from the output terminal 108 is set by the operationalinformation from the operational information input terminal 106 so as tobe generated at a frame rate of 24 Hz, the rate information in thereproduced conversion information is (m=1/2), so that the operationalcontroller 107 controls the reproduction unit 105 such that thereproduction unit 105 initially performs special reproduction of theinformation at a (4/5)-fold speed from {(2/5)×(1/m)=4/5} for the purposeof outputting the information.

[0151] In case the reproduction unit 105 outputs (4/5)-fold speed slowreproduction at a frame rate of 60 Hz, a method may be employed in whichafter four frames of the video signal have been outputted by outputtingone frame at an interval of ({fraction (1/60)}) sec., there is no outputduring a period of one frame by, for example, feeding the magnetic tapeintermittently in the reproduction unit 105. Output wave form of thereproduction video signal B obtained by this method is shown in FIG.31D. Meanwhile, repeat flags fetched from the reproduction conversioninformation together with the reproduction video signal B are shown inFIG. 31E. In the repeat flags of FIG. 31E inputted simultaneously withthe reproduction video signal B of FIG. 31D in the reproduction rateconverter 202, if time axis of only an initial frame subsequent to eachof points of changes of values of the repeat flags is expanded as shownin FIG. 31F, the video signal having a frame rate of 24 Hz is obtainedand outputted to the output terminal 108.

[0152] By the above described operation, since the video signal havingthe frame rate of 30 Hz is outputted through expansion to the frame rateof 24 Hz, the (4/5)-fold speed slow motion video can be obtained.

[0153] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, when the slow motion video isobtained a case in which intermittent reproduction is performed in thereproduction unit 105 so as to obtain the signal wave form shown in FIG.31D has been described as an example. Alternatively, the previous framemay also be outputted at an intermittent interval of ({fraction (1/60)})sec. Furthermore, any method may be employed in which the reproductionvideo signal B has output timing such that frames of the reproductionvideo signal B are inputted at a timing required by the reproductionrate converter 202. For example, there is a method in which thenecessary information is obtained in a predetermined period byperforming nontracking reproduction of the recording medium 104 in thereproduction unit 105.

[0154] Then, a case of high-speed motion video production in which asignal having a frame rate of 20 Hz is recorded and a high-speed motionvideo signal having a frame rate of 24 Hz is obtained by performing(6/5)-fold high-speed reproduction. FIG. 32 is a conceptual view ofrecording video signal wave form, reproduction video signal wave formand conversion information wave form during high-speed motion shootingof the video signal recording and reproducing apparatus of thisembodiment. Initially, the rate information from the rate informationinput terminal 102 is (m=1/3) and imaging is performed at a frame rateof 20 (=60×1/3) Hz by the m-fold frame rate imaging unit 101 as shown inFIG. 32A. Then, in the recording rate converter 201, each frame of thevideo signal A inputted to the recording rate converter 201 is repeatedthree times from (1/m=3) based on the simultaneously inputted rateinformation (m=1/3) and one frame is outputted at a frame rate of({fraction (1/60)}) sec., so that the video signal B having a frame rateof 60 Hz can be obtained as shown in FIG. 32B. FIG. 32C shows wave formof repeat flags acting as conversion flags indicative of positions ofchanges of contents of the video signal B of FIG. 32B betweenneighboring ones of the video frames outputted continuously in the videosignal B. Subsequently, in the recording unit 103, the video signal Bfrom the recording rate converter 201 and the conversion informationcomposed of the rate information m and the repeat flags of FIG. 32C inthe recording rate converter 201 are converted into the recordinginformation to be recorded on the recording medium 104 and then, therecording information is sequentially recorded on the recording medium104.

[0155] During reproduction, the information recorded on the recordingmedium 104 is reproduced by the reproduction unit 105 and thereproduction video signal B is outputted by the reverse operation ofrecording. At the same time, the conversion information stored at thepredetermined location is also separated and outputted. At this time, ifoutput from the output terminal 108 is set by the operationalinformation from the operational information input terminal 106 so as tobe generated at a frame rate of 24 Hz, the rate information in thereproduced conversion information is (m=1/3), so that the operationalcontroller 107 controls the reproduction unit 105 such that thereproduction unit 105 initially performs special reproduction of theinformation at a (6/5)-fold speed from {(2/5)×(1/m)=6/5} for the purposeof outputting the information.

[0156] In case the reproduction unit 105 outputs (6/5)-fold speedspecial reproduction at a frame rate of 60 Hz, a method may be employedin which after five frames of the video signal have been outputted byoutputting one frame at an interval of ({fraction (1/60)}) sec., oneframe is discarded and then, the next frame is outputted immediately by,for example, repeating high-speed feed and intermittent feed of themagnetic tape in the reproduction unit 105. Output wave form of thereproduction video signal B obtained by this method is shown in FIG.32D. Meanwhile, repeat flags fetched from the reproduction conversioninformation together with the reproduction video signal B are shown inFIG. 32E. In the repeat flags of FIG. 32E inputted simultaneously withthe reproduction video signal B of FIG. 32D in the reproductionconverter 202, if time axis of only an initial frame subsequent to eachof points of changes of values of the repeat flags is expanded as shownin FIG. 32F, the video signal having a frame rate of 24 Hz is obtainedand outputted to the output terminal 108.

[0157] By the above described method, since the video signal having theframe rate of 20 Hz is outputted through reduction to the frame rate of24 Hz, the (6/5)-fold high-speed motion video can be obtained.

[0158] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, when the high-speed motion videois obtained, a case in which reproduction is performed by rapid feed ofthe tape in the reproduction unit 105 so as to obtain the signal waveform shown in FIG. 32D has been described as an example. Alternatively,any method may be employed in which the reproduction video signal B hasoutput timing such that frames of the reproduction video signal B areinputted at a timing required by the reproduction rate converter 202.For example, there is a method in which the necessary information isobtained in a predetermined period by performing nontrackingreproduction of the recording medium 104 in the reproduction unit 105.

[0159] As described above in this embodiment, since the conversioninformation composed of the repeat flags acting as the conversion flagsand the rate information for setting the frame rate of the imaging unitis recorded together with the video signal and the reproduction videosignal and the reproduction conversion information are obtained at thetime of reproduction, reproduction speed of the reproduction unit 105and rate conversion ratio of the reproduction rate converter 202 can beautomatically set by the reproduction conversion information, so thatfine manual setting of the reproduction unit 105 and the reproductionrate converter 202 is not required to be performed and thus, the videosignal converted to the desired speed can be obtained.

[0160] Meanwhile, since the frame rate of the m-fold frame rate imagingunit 101 can be set to an arbitrary value at the time of recording andis outputted through its automatic conversion to the predeterminedreproduction speed at the time of reproduction, a usable speed rangefrom slow motion to high-speed motion is wide and is obtained simply.

[0161] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the cases in which the video ofthe standard frame rate, the (4/5)-fold speed slow motion video and the(6/5)-fold high speed motion video are obtained have been described.However, other speeds can also be obtained easily in the similarprocedure without the need for fine manual setting.

[0162] Meanwhile, the rate information is m itself indicative of theratio of the imaging frame rate to the frame rate at the time ofrecording and reproduction but may also indicate the imaging frame rateitself without indicating a frequency relation relative to the framerate at the time of recording and reproduction.

[0163] Any code which reveals points of changes of contents of the videosignal between the frames may be employed as the repeat flags of theconversion information.

[0164] The repeat flags are used as one of the conversion information.However, even an effective flag indicative of a position of only oneeffective frame in the repeatedly arranged frames of the same videosignal contents brings about similar effects.

[0165] Meanwhile, the conversion information is stored at the samelocation as the eighth embodiment as described above but may be storedat any location from which the conversion information can be fetchedsimultaneously with the video signal at the time of reproduction.

[0166] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, reproduction is outputted only at24 Hz as described above. However, for example, the 24P video signal canbe easily outputted as the signal format of 60 Hz shown in FIG. 30B.

[0167] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the recording unit 103 recordsthe video signal having the signal format of the frame rate of 60 Hz atthe standard speed as described above but the frame rate may assumeother values.

[0168] (Tenth Embodiment)

[0169]FIG. 33 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a videosignal recording and reproducing apparatus of a video signal producingsystem according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.33, blocks operating in the same manner as those of the video signalrecording and reproducing apparatus of the ninth embodiment aredesignated by identical numerals and the description is abbreviated.

[0170] In FIG. 33, “301” is a rate information detector for detecting,from contents of the repeat flags of the conversion information obtainedfrom the reproduction unit 105, a value of the rate information set atthe time of recording.

[0171] Hereinafter, operation of the video signal recording andreproducing apparatus of the above described arrangement is described.In this embodiment, the standard frame rate of the recording format isset at 24 Hz. A video signal format is a progressive video signal formatin which one frame acts as a unit of recording and display. Moreover, inthe recording unit 103, the video signal of the signal format having theframe rate of 60 Hz is recorded at the standard speed. In case the inputsignal whose frame rate is not 60 Hz is recorded, the frame rate isconverted to 60 Hz by the recording rate converter 201 and then,recording is performed. Meanwhile, a VTR in which information isrecorded on the magnetic tape by helical scanning of the recording andreproducing head is supposed to form a recording and reproducingportion.

[0172] In this embodiment, recording operation is performed in the samemanner as the ninth embodiment but the conversion information outputtedfrom the recording rate converter 201 simultaneously with the videosignal B contains only the repeat flags acting as the conversion flagsindicative of positions of changes of contents of the video signal Bbetween neighboring ones of the video frames outputted continuously inthe video signal B.

[0173] At the reproduction side, the recording information is reproducedfrom the recording medium 104 by the reproduction unit 105 by initiallysetting the recording and reproducing head and feed rate of the magnetictape to the standard speed (60 Hz, 1-fold speed reproduction), so thatthe reproduction video signal B and the conversion information areobtained. In this embodiment, the conversion information contains onlythe repeat flags and the repeat flags are inputted to the rateinformation detector 301.

[0174] From the contents of inputted repeat flags, the rate informationdetector 301 detects the value of the rate information set at the timeof recording. Supposing that “α” denotes the number of frames of thereproduction video signal B of a 60 Hz period present during one periodin which repetitions of change of the inputted repeat flags with timemake one round and “β” denotes a total of the number of changes ofstates (1, 0, 1, 0, - - - ) of the repeat flags in the one period of therepeat flags, the rate information m at the time of recording can becalculated in advance from a relation of (m=β/α).

[0175] For example, in case the repeat flags are as shown in FIG. 30C inthe reproduction video signal B outputted at 60 Hz, α is 5 from the fiveframes F1, F1, F1, F2 and F2, while β is 2 because the repeat flags are1 and 0 when the frames are F1 and F2, respectively, so that it can bedetected from (m=2/5) that imaging has been performed by the m-foldframe rate imaging unit 101 at a frame rate of 24 Hz. Meanwhile, in casethe repeat flags are as shown in FIG. 31C, α is 4 and β is 2 and thus,the relation of (m=1/2) enables detection that imaging has beenperformed by the m-fold frame rate imaging unit 101 at a frame rate of30 Hz from (60×1/2). Furthermore, in case the repeat flags are as shownin FIG. 32C, α is 6 and β is 2, so that the relation of (m=1/3) enablesdetection that imaging has been performed by the m-fold frame rateimaging unit 101 at a frame rate of 20 Hz from (60×1/3).

[0176] The same applies to other frame rates. FIG. 34 is a conceptualview of recording video signal wave form, reproduction video signal waveform and conversion information wave form of the video signal recordingand reproducing apparatus of this embodiment. For example, in case thereproduction video signal B and the repeat flags have such a relation asshown in FIG. 34A, α is 20 and β is 6, so that the relation of (m=3/10)enables detection that imaging has been performed at a frame rate of 18Hz from (60×3/10). Meanwhile, in case the reproduction video signal Band the repeat flags have such a relation as shown in FIG. 34B, α is 3and β is 2, so that the relation of (m=2/3) enables detection thatimaging has been performed at a frame rate of 40 Hz from (60×2/3).Furthermore, in case the reproduction video signal B and the repeatflags have such a relation as shown in FIG. 34C, α is 15 and β is 4, sothat the relation of (m=4/15) enables detection that imaging has beenperformed at a frame rate of 16 Hz from (60×4/15).

[0177] The rate information detected by the rate information detector301 and the repeat flags of the conversion information are inputted tothe operational controller 107 and the reproduction rate converter 202.At this time, if the frame rate is so set as to be outputted from theoutput terminal 108 at 24 Hz by the operational information from theoperational information input terminal 106, control of the subsequentreproduction unit 105 and reproduction rate converter 202 is performedin the same procedure as the ninth embodiment and thus, a slow motionvideo or a high-speed motion video can be obtained at a reproductionframe rate of 24 Hz.

[0178] As described above in this embodiment, since the repeat flagsacting as the conversion flags are recorded as the conversioninformation together with the video signal and the reproduction videosignal and the reproduction conversion information are obtained at thetime of reproduction such that the rate information is detected from thereproduction conversion information by the rate information detector301, reproduction speed at the reproduction unit 105 and rate conversionratio at the reproduction rate converter 202 can be set automatically,so that fine manual setting of the reproduction unit 105 and thereproduction rate converter 202 are not required to be performed andthus, the video signal converted to the desired speed can be obtained.

[0179] Meanwhile, since the frame rate of the m-fold frame rate imagingunit 101 can be set at an arbitrary value at the time of recording andis automatically converted to the predetermined reproduction speed atthe time of reproduction so as to be outputted, a usable speed rangefrom slow motion to high-speed motion is wide and is obtained simply.

[0180] Furthermore, as compared with the ninth embodiment, since therate information is not required to be recorded as the conversioninformation at the time of recording, the recording information on therecording medium 104 can be reduced.

[0181] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, speeds of slow motion andhigh-speed motion, which are not referred to in the ninth embodiment,also can be obtained easily in the similar procedure without the needfor fine manual setting.

[0182] The conversion information can be stored at a location similar tothat of the eighth embodiment and may be stored at any location fromwhich the conversion information can be fetched simultaneously with thevideo signal at the time of reproduction.

[0183] Any code which reveals points of changes of contents of the videosignal between the frames may be employed as the repeat flags of theconversion information.

[0184] The repeat flags are used as the conversion information. However,even an effective flag indicative of a position of only one effectiveframe in the repeatedly arranged frames of the same video signalcontents brings about similar effects.

[0185] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, reproduction is outputted from theoutput terminal 108 only at 24 Hz as described above. However, forexample, the 24P video signal can be easily outputted as the signalformat of 60 Hz shown in FIG. 30B.

[0186] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the recording unit 103 recordsthe video signal having the signal format of the frame rate of 60 Hz atthe standard speed as described above but the frame rate may assumeother values.

[0187] In the eighth, ninth and tenth embodiments, it is supposed thatthe magnetic tape acts as the recording medium 104 and the VTR in whichthe recording and reproducing head is mounted on the rotary cylindersuch that information is recorded on the magnetic tape by helicalscanning of the recording and reproducing head acts as the recordingunit 103 and the reproduction unit 105. However, the recording unit 103and the reproduction unit 105 may be formed by any apparatus enablingadjustment of timing of recording and reproduction from outside, forexample, a nonlinear device in which the recording medium and therecording and reproducing head are constituted by a hard disc or a discapparatus constituted by an optical disc.

[0188] As described above in the video signal producing system of thepresent invention, since the signals of the various frame rates obtainedby the imaging device can be converted to the signal of thepredetermined frame rate, recording can be performed by the recordingdevice at the predetermined frame rate of, for example, 60P at alltimes, so that the imaging device and the recording device of the videosignal producing system can be arranged without increase of circuitscale and electric power in a VTR built-in imaging device in which theimaging device and the recording device are provided integrally, forexample, a camera recorder. Meanwhile, if the reproduction device isalso combined with the imaging device and the recording device, thevideo signal of 24P can be easily reproduced through selection of thesignals and conversion of the reproduction speed at the predeterminedratio.

[0189] Meanwhile, in addition to the above described effects in thevideo signal producing system of the present invention, even if theconversion ratio of the various frame rates of the video signal iscomplicated, namely, the conversion ratio does not assume an inversenumber of an integer, for example, in conversions from 48P to 60P and24P to 60P, conversion to the signal having the predetermined frame rateof, for example, 60P can be performed at all times and recording can beperformed at the frame rate by the recording device, so that finesetting such as slow motion and rapid feed can be performed.

[0190] Meanwhile, in the video signal producing system of the presentinvention, in case the frame rate after conversion at the frame rateconverting portion is 60 frames and the substantial number of the framesat the reproduction device is 24 frames, i.e., 24P, the 2-3 pull-downtype output can be obtained by the reproduction device at all times, sothat such an effect is gained that each 24P video signal from slowmotion to rapid feed can be handled as a signal format of 60P.

[0191] Meanwhile, in the video signal producing system of the presentinvention, since the P imaging signal having the various frame rates isoutputted at the frame rate of 60P, the output signal of the frame rateconverting portion can be set at a delay time of one frame of 60P at alltimes and timing of write and read of the frame memory, etc. are notrequired to be adjusted for a plurality of the frame rates by settingthe frame rate of the output signal of the imaging portion and the framerate of the frame rate converting portion to 60P identically, such aneffect is achieved that circuit operation in the frame rate convertingportion can be stabilized.

[0192] Meanwhile, in the video signal producing system of the presentinvention, since the flag signal for changing over the frames can beproduced by the simple configuration and can be recorded in therecording device together with the imaging signal, information such asthe synchronous signals of the imaging portion and the recording deviceis not required to be supplied to the reproduction device. In addition,such effects are obtained that a switch for changing over operation inresponse to the frame rate of the imaging portion, etc. are not requiredto be provided in the reproduction device and video signals can bereproduced automatically even if frame rate of the imaging portionchanges variously.

[0193] Meanwhile, in the video signal producing system of the presentinvention, since an interface for the flag signal necessary in additionto the signal and a delay circuit for imparting a predetermined delaytime in a processing time of the imaging signal up to its recording inthe recording device are not required to be provided, the above effectscan be gained by a simple circuit configuration.

[0194] Furthermore, in the video signal producing system of the presentinvention, since a conventional VTR having a fixed frame rate, etc. canbe employed in a portion of the recording device and the reproductiondevice, the system can be manufactured at low cost.

[0195] On the other hand, in the video signal recording and reproducingapparatus of the present invention, since the video signals of thevarious frame rates obtained by the imaging device are recorded andreproduced in combination with the conversion information and thereproduction conversion information is utilized at the time ofreproduction, the reproduction video signal can be automatically set atthe predetermined reproduction frame rate easily.

[0196] Meanwhile, in the video signal recording and reproducingapparatus of the present invention, such a marked effect is achievedthat the reproduction frame rate can be set more arbitrarily than theconventional VTR in which the reproduction frame rate is restricted to aspecial reproduction speed control range settable by a jog dial andpreset special reproduction speeds.

[0197] Furthermore, in the video signal recording and reproducingapparatus of the present invention, since the conversion information maybe stored in the already provided sub-code area or the like so as to berecorded and reproduced in the case of DV, the present invention can becarried out easily.

1. (Amended) A video signal producing system comprising: an imagingdevice for obtaining progressive imaging signals having various framerates; a recording device for recording an output signal of the imagingdevice; and a reproduction device for reproducing a recording signalobtained from the recording device; wherein the imaging device includesa frame rate converting portion for converting the imaging signals to anoutput having a predetermined frame rate so as to apply the output tothe recording device and outputs information on the various frame ratesto the recording device such that the recording device records theoutput of the imaging device and the information on the various framerates; wherein the reproduction device receives the output of theimaging device and the information on the various frame rates from therecording device and changes a reproduction speed on the basis of thereceived information on the various frame rates so as to generate anoutput having a substantial number of frames such that the substantialnumber of the frames assumes a predetermined value.
 2. The video signalproducing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame rateconverting portion includes a frame rate conversion ratio calculatingportion for calculating a ratio of each of the various frame rates tothe predetermined frame rate; wherein “n” and “m” are integers having arelation of (n≦m) and the ratio is (n/m); wherein when n is 1, thesignal having each of the various frame rates is duplicated (m−1) timesat the predetermined frame rate so as to be outputted; wherein when n isnot 1, n frames of the signal having each of the various frame rates ispartially or wholly duplicated a total of (m−n) times at thepredetermined frame rate so as to be outputted such that a time of the nframes of the signal having each of the various frame rates coincideswith m frames of the signal having the predetermined frame rate, wherebythe conversion is performed so as to generate a regular frame signalsequence at an interval of the m frames; wherein the recording deviceperforms recording at the predetermined frame rate.
 3. The video signalproducing system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the reproductiondevice includes a selector circuit for selecting one of input signals ofone or a plurality of identical frames so as to change a reproductionspeed of the selected signal such that a substantial number of frames ofthe selected signal assume the predetermined value.
 4. The video signalproducing system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein when thepredetermined frame rate is 60 frames and the substantial number of theframes in the output of the reproduction device is 24 progressiveframes, so-called 2-3 pull-down output in which in a set of signals oftwo different frames in the 60 frames, the signal of an initial one ofthe two different frames is repeated two times and the signal of thesubsequent one of the two different frames is repeated three times orthe signal of the initial one of the two different frames is repeatedthree times and the signal of the subsequent one of the two differentframes is repeated two times is employed for duplication or deletion ofthe frames so as to change the reproduction speed.
 5. The video signalproducing system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the reproductiondevice changes the reproduction speed such that the substantial numberof the frames in the output of the reproduction device is 48 progressiveframes.
 6. The video signal producing system as claimed in claim 1 or 2,wherein the imaging device includes a solid imaging element forcontrolling an accumulation time so as to obtain the progressive imagingsignals having the various frame rates; wherein the imaging deviceincludes a drive pulse generation control circuit for controlling adrive pulse for driving the solid imaging element and outputs, as thedrive pulse, to the solid imaging element a read pulse at a rate of theaccumulation time leading to a desired frame rate and horizontal andvertical transfer pulses at such a rate that an output signal of thesolid imaging element has the predetermined frame rate.
 7. The videosignal producing system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the framerate converting portion duplicates a plurality of frame signal groupseach having an identical frame and the imaging device includes a flagsignal generating portion for generating a flag signal indicative of apoint of change from one frame of one frame signal group to thesubsequent frame of the subsequent frame signal group; wherein therecording device records the output signal of the imaging device and theflag signal and the reproduction device changes the reproduction speedon the basis of the flag signal such that the substantial number of theframes assume the predetermined value.
 8. The video signal producingsystem as claimed in claim 1 or 2, the frame rate converting portionduplicates a plurality of frame signal groups each having an identicalframe; wherein the imaging device includes a flag signal generatingportion for generating a flag signal indicative of a point of changefrom one frame of one frame signal group to the subsequent frame of thesubsequent frame signal group and a flag signal converting and addingcircuit for converting and adding the flag signal to a signal durationother than an effective time of the imaging signal outputted from theframe rate converting portion; wherein the recording device records theoutput signal of the imaging device and the flag signal and thereproduction device changes the reproduction speed on the basis of theflag signal such that the substantial number of the frames assume thepredetermined value.
 9. The video signal producing system as claimed inclaim 7 or 8, wherein the reproduction device includes a fixed ratereproduction portion for reproducing the output signal of the imagingdevice and the flag signal at a frame rate identical with that ofrecording of the output signal of the imaging device and the flag signalby the recording device and an imaging signal storage portion forstoring, on the basis of the flag signal outputted from the fixed ratereproduction portion, the imaging signal having the substantial numberof the frames prior to conversion of the frame rate converting portionsuch that the imaging signal is outputted from the imaging signalstorage portion at the predetermined frame rate.
 10. The video signalproducing system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame rateconverting portion duplicates a plurality of frame signal groups eachhaving an identical frame and the imaging device includes a flag signalgenerating portion for generating a flag signal indicative of a point ofchange from one frame of one frame signal group to the subsequent frameof the subsequent frame signal group; wherein the recording devicerecords the output signal of the imaging device, the flag signal andrate information indicative of the frame rates obtained prior toconversion of the frame rate converting portion.
 11. (Amended) A videosignal recording apparatus of a video signal producing system, whereinwhen an input video signal having a frame rate equal to an m multiple ofa standard frame rate of a recording format is recorded on a recordingmedium in the recording format for each frame, rate information capableof specifying the frame rate of the input video signal is recordedtogether with the input video signal.
 12. A video signal reproducingapparatus of a video signal producing system, wherein when from arecording medium on which an input video signal having a frame rateequal to an m multiple of a standard frame rate of a recording formatand rate information indicative of the frame rate of the input videosignal directly or indirectly are recorded in the recording format foreach frame, the input video signal and the rate information arereproduced such that the input video signal is reproduced at a furtherframe rate different from the standard frame rate, the input videosignal is reproduced and outputted at a predetermined multiple of areproduction speed determined by the rate information.
 13. A videosignal recording apparatus of a video signal producing system, whereinwhen a video signal A having a frame rate equal to an m multiple of astandard frame rate of a recording format is recorded, a video signal Bis obtained by converting the frame rate of the video signal A to thestandard frame rate such that the video signal B and conversioninformation on conversion of the frame rate are recorded.
 14. (Amended)The video signal recording apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein theconversion information is composed of either only a conversion flagcapable of specifying points of changes of contents of the video signalB between frames or positions of effective frames of the video signal Bor the conversion flag and rate information capable of specifying theframe rate of the video signal A.
 15. A video signal reproducingapparatus of a video signal producing system, wherein a video signal Ahas a frame rate equal to an m multiple of a standard frame rate of arecording format and a video signal B is obtained by converting theframe rate of the video signal A to the standard frame rate; whereinfrom a recording medium on which the video signal B and conversioninformation on conversion of the frame rate are recorded, the videosignal B and the conversion information are reproduced and the videosignal B is converted by the conversion information to a further videosignal having a further frame rate equal to a predetermined multiple ofthe frame rate of the video signal A such that the further video signalis reproduced and outputted.
 16. (Amended) The video signal reproducingapparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the conversion information iscomposed of either only a conversion flag capable of specifying pointsof changes of contents of the video signal B between frames or positionsof effective frames of the video signal B or the conversion flag andrate information capable of specifying the frame rate of the videosignal A.
 17. (Amended) A video signal reproducing apparatus of a videosignal producing system, wherein a video signal A has a frame rate equalto an m multiple of a standard frame rate of a recording format and avideo signal B is obtained by converting the frame rate of the videosignal A to the standard frame rate; wherein from a recording medium onwhich the video signal B and conversion information composed of only aconversion flag capable of specifying points of changes of contents ofthe video signal B between frames or positions of effective frames ofthe video signal B are recorded, the video signal B and the conversioninformation are reproduced so as to detect, from a generation pattern ofthe conversion flag, information indicative of the frame rate of thevideo signal at the time of recording and the video signal B isconverted by the information to a further video signal having a furtherframe rate equal to a predetermined multiple of the frame rate of thevideo signal A such that the further video signal is reproduced andoutputted.
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